Chiropractic table



A. A. GRIFFIN.

CHIROPRACTIC TABLE.

APPLIcATIoII FILED APR. 16, um.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT A. GRIFFIN, OF DAVENPORT, IOi/VA.

CHIROPRACTIC TABLE.

Application filed April 16., 191.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Impioienient in (ihnopiactic Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tables for use by chiropractors and other practitioners using manipulations for the treatment of the human body.

An object of the invention is to furnish a table, mounted on a suitable support, that can be moved from a substantially vertical position to a horizontal position whereby a patient may step upon it and without exertion be placed in a reclining position.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a table of the nature described pivotally mounted which can be moved from a substantially upright position to a horizontal position with a patient thereon, there being provision for throwing into action springs of various tensions so that any weight of patient may be balanced and let down to the horizontal position with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator and without shock to the patient and without causing such patient any alarm.

it is too purpose to so arrange my table that the patient ma step upon a support thereon without in any way exerting himself, retaining his straight upright form, in so doing, whereby resting himself throughout his entire length upon the usual cushions of the table and in that position let down to a reclining position by the ope ator.

The advantage of this is that a patient who may be unable to bend his back or exert himself in the least may thus be readily and easily brought to the reclining position necessary for manipulations.

in addition to the advantage in not requiring the patient to thus exert himself, the device has provision for practically counterbalancing any weight imposed upon it and thereby the operator is neither called upon to exert himself in supporting the heavy weight nor is the patient in danger of being dropped and shocked.

In addition to the above objects and advantages the invention relates to certain details of construction and arrangement of parts as will be pointed out herein, aided by the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1920.

Serial No. 162,459.

Figure 1 is a plan of a base or platform showing some of the working parts, together with a table shown in section on line aa Fig. 2, pivotally supported thereon;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the platform showing a part of the table in elevation in both its raised or substantial ertical position, and its longitudinal position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the table and platform produced on a smaller scale, the table being shown in its raised position;

Fig. A shows, in perspective, certain working parts in the platform or base; and,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the platform or base and a portion of the table, and mechanism for securing the latter in its horizontal position.

1 indicates a portion of a table of any approved form or design, while 2 is a base or platform from which arises at one end a U-shaped support or yoke S to whose upstanding extremities the said table 1 is pivoted near one end as at l. The described platform or base is preferably in the form of a box for containing the operating parts used for supporting the table in its raised position.

5 indicates a plurality of flat springs pivotally attached at one of their ends to one end of links 6, which in turn are pivotally attached to a member 7 red on the rear end of the table.

8 is a roller suitably journaled between the sides of the base 2 beneath which the springs 5 are adapted to move. The oppo site ones of the springs are supported upon suitable rollers 9 adapted to travel upon the bottom of the base 2. 10 is a member fixed within the base and having attached thereto a series of coil springs 11 in any suitable manner, their other ends being suitably connected to angle plates 12, for example, ailixed to the springs 5.

13, 14 and 15 indicate three hooked arms pivoted to the member 10, their hooks projecting upwardly as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and A, the said several arms being of different lengths.

openings is shown at 18 in Figs. 2 and 4:, and each lever is fulcrumed between its ends upon the bottom, for example, each being slotted at 19, a pin 20 extending therethrough held in the bottom of the base, for example, acting to hold said levers in position but permitting them to work freely in a vertical direction.

21, 22 and 23 indicate cross members, each in its normal position lying above the arms 13, 14c, 15, respectively, as shown in Fig. 4. To each end of each cross member is attached one end of a coil spring 24, the opposite ends of the springs being suitably connected with the angle plates 12 of the flat springs 5.

25 is a latch pivoted at one end to the described member 10 and held in one of its exlever suitably journaled, one end of which engages the described latch 25, its other end lying outside the base.

28 is a keeper depending from a part of the frame of the table, Figs. 2 and 5 adapted to engage the described latch 25,this being employed to secure the table in its horizontal position against the pull of the springs 11 and 24 as will be more fully de scribed.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated a foot board 29 extending from the top of the table, upon which the patient stands.

Normally, the forward extensions or" all of the springs and the members 21, 22 and 23 are held above the hooked arms 13, 1 1 and 15 by resting upon any suitable part such as an extension 30 of the flat springs 5, there being suflicient rigidity in the springs to support said members 21, 22 and 23, but it is to be understood that any other means of support may be adopted.

Operation.

The pull of the springs 11 is always such as to support the table in its upright position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this position the patient may step upon the foot board 29 thereby transferring his weight to the table whereupon if he be a man weighing say one hundred and fifty pounds, or less, the springs 11 will carry his weight, the operator drawing the table down to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, until the keeper 28 engages the latch 25.

y In drawing the table downward the flat springs 5 are drawn outward beneath the roller 8 assuming the position shown in. broken lines, the links 6 moving outward and upward, the springs 11 being extended or drawn out, the tension thereof being in creased as the springs 5 are drawn outward.

If the weight of the patient is two hundred pounds, or three hundred pounds, er

greater, the operator by placing his foot member 23, for example, with the hook of the arm 15 whereupon the springs 24 attached to said member will be placed in action and will support a load in excess of tha supported by the springs 11.

As the member 23 becomes engaged the foot lever is released whereupon the arms 13 and 14 will drop out of the way of the members 21 and 22. The table may then be lowered, the said members 21, 22 which are unengaged traveling with the flat springs If it is required to support a still heavier load than that carried by the said springs 11 and said springs 2% of the member 23, the cross bar 16 may be held elevated until the member 21 of the next longer hooked arm 13 reaches and engages the latter in the travel thereof whereupon another set of springs 24: will be placed in action.

If an extreme load is to be supported all of the hooked arms are held elevated until all three members 21, 22 and 23 engage them,

To restore the patient to an upright or standing position, the latch 25 is removed from the keeper 28 through the foot lever 27. The springs that may be under tension are automatically released as the cross-members are relaxed, the hooked arms all dropping to their normal position. All of the parts are now restored to their initial positions ready for a succeeding operation. The rollers 8 and 9 guide the flat springs 5 in their longitudinal movements and the arrangement of the said springs 5 permits a free smooth action producing a straight pull upon the coil springs.

. The arrangement of all of the parts gives a very positive smoothly acting table which table is at all times. under complete control. 7

Such changes may be made in the construction as will be suggested to the practical person as may be found best suited to the requirements without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or from the scope of theaccompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention. I claim: I

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and a table pivotally related at one of their ends, anelastic member operatively connecting the table and base adapted to sustain the former normally in a substantially upright position, a second elastic member operatively connected at one end to said table and normally free to move at its other end in the movement of the table on its point of support, and a latch mounted on the base adapted to be brought manually into the path of the free end of said second member to engage it and adapted to automatically disengage therefrom when the said member is free of load and unflexed.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and table pivotally related at one of their ends, an elastic member operatively connected to both the said base and table and normally sustaining the latter in an elevated position, a second elastic member operatively connected with the table and having a free end adapted to travel in the movement of the table, and a foot latch adapted to be brought into engagement with the said free end in its extended position when the table is in its raised position.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and table pivotally related at one of their ends, an elastic member operatively connected to boththe said base and table and normally sustaining the latter in an elevated position, a series of elastic members operatively connected with the table and having free ends adapted to travel with the table in its movements, and separate independent latches lying in the paths of the members of the series adapted to be selectively brought into engagement with said free ends.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and a table pivotally related at one of their ends, elastic means connected at its ends to the table and base constantly under tension and constantly tending to carry the table to an upright position, an auxiliary elastic means connected to the said table and normally inoperative, and means mounted on the base adapted to engage said auxiliary elastic means to operatively connect the same with the base for assisting the first named means.

5. In a device of the class described, in-

combination, a base and a table pivotally related near one of their ends, elastic means connected between the pivoted end of the table and the end of the base opposite thereto, the same being normally under tension and constantly tending to move the table to an upright position, an auxiliary elastic means also connected at one end with the pivoted end of the table, its other end being free and normally moving with the table as said table swings on its pivot, and means mounted on the base adapted to be brought into the path of movement of the free end of the said auxiliary means to engage it at the will of the operator when the table is in its upright position and adapted to present greater sustaining action on the table than aflorded by the first named means.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and a table connected in pivotal relation at one of their ends, an elastic means connected at its ends to the pivoted end of the table, and the base thereof opposite said pivoted end of the table, and constantly under tension and constantly tending to hold the table in an upright position, a plurality of auxiliary elastic means connected at one of their ends with the said pivoted end of the table, the several said auxiliary means terminating each in a free end and of unequal length and adapted to move with the body as that member swings on its pivot, and a series of members mounted on the base adapted to be separately brought into the path of movement of said free ends.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and a table pivotally related near one of their ends and elastic means connected at its ends to the pivoted end of the table and to the base at its end opposite the pivot of said table and constantly under tension and constantly tending to elevate the table to an upright position, an auxiliary elastic member secured to the said pivoted end of the table and normally free at its other end and arranged to be secured in position with respect to the base whereby to support a greater load than the first named means is capable of supporting.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and a table pivotally related at one of their ends, a roller j ournaled in said base, a flat spring operatively connected to the pivoted end 0]": the table and extending beneath the roller and adapted to flex laterally, and an elastic member attached at one end to the said flat spring and at its other end to the base, the same being constantly under tension and adapted to normally sustain the table in an upright position.

S). In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and a table pivotally related at one of their ends, a roller journaled in that end of the base to which the table is pivoted, a flat spring adapted to travel beneath the roller adapted to flex laterally and operatively connected at one end to the pivoted end of the table, and a spring connected at one end with said flat spring and at its other end to the base adapted to normally sustain the table in an upright position.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and a table connected in pivotal relation at one of their ends, an elastic means connected at its ends to the pivoted end of the table and the base thereof opposite said pivoted end of the table, the same being constantly under tension and constantly tending to hold said table in its upright position, a plurality of auxiliary elastic means connected at one of mg of unequal length, each having a free end, and each adapted to move with the body as that member swings on its pivot,

a series of members mounted on the base, each of a different length adapted to be 7 brought separately into engagement with the respective free ends of the springs, and a device common to all of the members adapted to move all of them simultaneously into position for such engagement.

11. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base and table pivotally related at one of their ends, an elastic member operatively connected to both the said base and table and normally sustaining the latter in an elevated position, a series of elastic members operatively connected with the table and having free ends adapted to travel with the table in its movements, separate independent latches each lying in the path of movement of one of said members of the series, and a member common to all of the latches adapted for moving all of them for carryin them selectively into engagement with the said free ends.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base and a table pivoted thereon, of a series of yielding members attached to the table having free extensions, a, corresponding series of independent latches each for engaging one of the members, and a manually operated member common to all of said 7 latches adapted to move them either collectively or selectively into engagement with said members.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base and a table pivoted thereon, of a member elastic in the direction of its length attached operatively to the table and free to travel unflexed and bodily with the table in the pivotal movement thereof, and a latch on said base adapted to be moved manually into the path of said member to engage and hold the same with respect to said base.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base and a table pivoted thereon, of a member elastic in the direction of its length attached operatively to the table and free to travel unfleXed and bodily with the table in pivotal movement thereof,

a latch on said base adapted to be moved.

thereon, of a flat spring operatively con-- nected to the pivoted end of the table, means connected to it adapted to stretch elastically in a longitudinal direction and attached to the base, a member mounted on the base between the fiat spring and the pivot or" said table to receive against it the said flat spring member in the tilted movement or the table.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base and a table pivoted thereon, a flat spring operatively connected to the pivoted end of the table, means connected to it adapted to stretch elastically in a longitudinal direction and attached to the base, a member mounted on the base between the flat spring and the pivot of said table to receive against it the said flat spring member.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base and a table pivoted thereon, a non-extensible member adapted to flex laterally operatively connected to the pivoted end of the table, a support for the member remote from its connected end, a spring adapted to stretch longitudinally attached to said member supported by and extending beyond its supported extremity into a free end, a member mounted on the base between the pivot of the table and said non-extensible member for receiving pressure of the latter against it, and a latch adapted to at will be brought into engagement with said free end of the spring. 1

ALBERT A. GRIFFIN.

Witnesses r J. C. HALL J. Lomsn lBAIRD. 

